Best Wardrobe of the Century

I’ve seen dozens of lists of the best movies to watch simply for the wardrobe. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rear Window, The Women (1939), and other classics make the list. I’m going to break with tradition and name a film made this century - and it isn’t The Devil Wears Prada or Sex in the City. I adore Heather Graham’s wardrobe in Killing Me Softly. The movie gets terrible ratings from reviewers, but I give costume designer Phoebe De Gaye two thumbs up.

Alice’s first ensemble is a sheer, long-sleeved, robin’s egg blue blouse under a pinstriped, sleeveless sheath. For out of doors, she adds a matching blue scarf and black coat. Ahead of her time, she’s wearing black booties on her feet. I love the contrast of masculine and feminine in this outfit. The blue looks gorgeous with her eyes.


The next day (and after a torrid afternoon with Joseph Fiennes’ character), she again wears a vibrant blouse with a dark skirt and coat. The poppy color accentuates her flushed cheeks as she looks for her lover in the bookstore. (Check out the romantic side bun!) The only good shot I could get of her open-weave tights was as she was doing something rather private in the cab. Don’t click if you’re prudish.


Love (or obsession) is in full bloom and Alice meets a friend to talk about her new relationship and ask about her ex. She exclaims about the way her tastes have changed. Her bright cheongsam reflects her new zest for life. Again, she’s wearing sassy shoes – red ankle boots, this time. Outside, she keeps warm with a olive green shearling jacket.


This is my absolute favorite outfit of the movie: a knitted wedding dress. Some day Mike and I are going to renew our vows in the mountains of New Zealand so I can wear this dress in June. I’d better learn to knit now – because I don’t know where I’d find anything like it! It has a funnel neck and a heart stitched to the bodice. When Alice runs, streamers of yarn fly from the arms and skirt. She must have been a bit itchy, though, because when Alice changes in the graveyard, you see that she’s wearing nothing underneath. (Sorry, guys, no naked pictures on my blog. You'll have to rent the movie to see Heather Graham's boobs.)


After the wedding, the new Alice Tallis attends a party with her husband’s mountain climbing set. She finds she’s totally overdressed in a velvet wrap dress, mohair shawl, and feathered hair piece. I don’t have a good picture of her feet, but she’s wearing white fishnets and bronze pumps.


Aside from a hot pink leather skirt and red sweater combo, we don’t see much more of Alice’s innerwear for the rest of the movie. The story takes place during the winter and Alice wears a different coat on almost every day. This coat is my favorite. I love the drapey collar (which resembles an uneven, attached scarf when unbuttoned) and the asymmetrical closure.

I apologize for the rather poor quality of the photos. We don’t have a high definition TV and photographing a screen never comes out well. If I had it to do over again, I’d play the DVD on a computer and take screen captures instead. If you’d like a better look at the wardrobe, rent a copy of Killing Me Softly. The sets, camera work, and other leads (Joseph Fiennes and Natascha McElhone) are gorgeous as well. And even when the story is lacking, the time between steamy sex scenes is short. I nominate Killing Me Softly for Best Wardrobe of the Century - even though we're only eight years in.

Sheila Wonderly

Dress, Banana Republic. Brooch, swap. Peeptoes, Bitten.

This was my costume as Sheila Wonderly in Noir Suspicions. Tonight was our last performance. I’m not sorry to see the play end. The show has been cursed with bad luck from the first rehearsal to the closing night’s performance. It’s almost enough to make one superstitious.

I played the ex-call girl who may or may not have “done it.”

Overworn

Dress, Frederick’s of Hollywood. Belt, The Limited. Sandals, Forever 21. Crinoline, Casablanca Vintage.

I’ll tell you a secret…I’ve worn this dress three or four times a month this summer. I’ve stopped photographing it because y’all must be sick of it by now. I do try to do something a bit different each time (I’ve added the green crinoline here), but the summer heat prevents me from adding enough layers to create truly different outfits. Fall will be here soon, and I’ll do my best to reinvent this simple sundress once again.


Just a few instances of this sundress’ wear over the past few months

Fall Fever

Dress, No Boundaries. Tights, We Love Colors. Shoes, Two Lips (Martini). Leather owl brooch, thrifted. Ring, Jan Michaels. Bag, World Market.

It’s been one year and one day since the last time I tired of summer. I’m so predictable!


I’ve been dying to start sporting my fall purple and these FABULOUS shoes. As far as fall shoe trends go, I shy away from a full on bootie or (the horror!) peep-toe booties. I am embracing mary janes, menswear detailing, and boot-like pumps. The tights are from We Love Colors. Although they may not look it in the flash, they are fully opaque. I am ordering more.

More fun trends I like: owls (yes, I’m late to this party) and mixing brown and gray. These aren’t necessarily fall trends, but they seem appropriate to the season.

And I can’t resist sharing Mike’s reaction to the owl brooch. I made him close his eyes while I pulled it out of the bag and held it to my chest. He took one look and said, “Well howdy there, Sheriff.” I’ll admit, from a distance, it resembles a law officer’s badge. I guess I’m the sheriff of Owl Town.



Adios, muchachos. It’s time for work.

Noticed

Dress, Jones New York. Necklace and belt, Xhilaration. Peeptoe slingbacks, Delicious. Handbag (in background), Naturalizer (vintage and thrifted).


A zebra’s stripes may be camouflage in its native Africa, but they stand out in the city streets. There is no hiding in an outfit this loud.

That Troublesome Skirt

Indian skirt, flea market. Oxford shirt, Gap. Cardigan, Moda International. Peeptoe pumps, Wild Diva. Faux feather earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Handbag, Naturalizer (vintage and thrifted). Tiger eye ring, Jan Michaels.

Ack. This wrap skirt’s tie closure still annoys me. I need to replace the ties with some other sort of fastener – perhaps snaps. The skirt continued to give me trouble once I had it on. With my overloaded work bag pressing firmly against one hip, the skirt rotated around my waist as I walked. It had rotated 90 degrees by the time I noticed and I looked awfully silly. I think I complain every time I wear this skirt, but I can’t bear to part with it. The fabrics are just too lovely.


I bought this ring at lunch today, at a delightfully eclectic home store called High Street. I know my hands are really ugly (despite some photoshop blurring), but I modeled the ring for its closeup to give you a sense of scale. It's wonderfully chunky.

Green Crinoline

Floral skirt, Herman Geist (thrifted and shortened). Green crinoline, Casablanca Vintage. Cowlneck tank, Apt 9. Peeptoe pumps, Wet Seal. Earrings, thrifted. Bag, Franco Sarto.



I’ve developed a sort of 50’s obsession with full skirts. I think it’s from looking at too many of Ranna’s outfit photos. When she revealed that her secret to a super poofy skirt was a crinoline, I began the hunt for my own. I bought this green tulle version from Hollywood at Casablanca Vintage. I also bought a non-tulle, but layered and ruffled, underskirt at a Cappel’s. I much prefer the look of the tulle. Beware, though, of sitting at your desk in a tulle skirt all day. Without a slip between the stiff fabric and your skin, it is a bit painful.

2nd Time With Orange

Cowlneck tank, Worthington. Skirt, Andre Oliver (thrifted). Slingbacks, Gianni Bini (from Londyn). Amber pendant, Ali’s Boutique. Faux pearl cuff, Forever 21. Bag, Prague (thrifted).

It’s silly, but I make a game out of pairing my neutral, but patterned, pieces with different accent colors. I’ve paired this skirt with true green, aqua blue, hot pink, and lime green. This is the second time I’ve worn it with orange.



Paired with orange last October

Londyn picked up this purse first (during our thrifting expedition a couple weekends ago), but finally relented and let me have it.